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Local Atmosphere:

A-

(explain this grade)

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Local Atmosphere Grades:

College Prowler Take

Tempe is undoubtedly packed with plenty of fun activities for college students. Tempe is filled with infinite young and vibrant people who possess many different personalities, qualities, and interests. As in many large urban areas, some students complain that it can be hard to find a good number of honest, down-to-earth people in the rush of all the new faces. ASU is the only university in Tempe and the Phoenix metropolitan area. The University of Arizona in Tucson is approximately an hour and a half drive from Arizona State. Tempe is truly a college town. Its atmosphere, social scene, and commerce rely heavily upon the school and its students. Mill Avenue, the main stretch of road located just off of campus, is a perpetual hive of activity. It’s lined with a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, and retail stores, all of which appeal to the tastes and finances typical of college students.

In addition to all of the activities going on in the area, there are also numerous sporting events. With the Arizona Diamondbacks playing at Bank One Ballpark in the heart of downtown Phoenix, ASU football at Sun Devil Stadium, and NASCAR racing at Firebird International Raceway, the sporting events never tire. With so many things going on in Tempe and Scottsdale, many students never take the time to travel to other places around Arizona. I recommend that after you’ve had your fill of Tempe and urban life, you travel to the beautiful places in Northern Arizona such as Sedona, Prescott, and Payson. The Grand Canyon is amazing and is a must-see if you’re in Arizona. The local atmosphere is certainly sufficient, but much more of the state of Arizona is worth seeing as well. Don’t get overwhelmed by the large size of the school, or the amount of people; you’ll be surprised at how many familiar faces you know and how well you’ll know the campus after only one semester here.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

ASU is in a great location. Tempe...

ASU is in a great location. Tempe is a fairly populated area and there are tons of restaurants, bars, clubs, and places to shop. If you like going out, Tempe is the place for you. The campus is surrounded by bars and restaurants that range in price and style. Students often go into Scottsdale (five minutes away) for a change of scenery. Scottsdale has a wide mixture of high-end clubs as well as more low-key places, too. Tempe is literally five minutes away from the airport, very convenient.

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Anonymous says:

Tempe is a great city to attend...

Tempe is a great city to attend college in. There is so much to do in the immediate city for people our age. If you can’t find it in Tempe, it’s almost definitely in a nearby city or state. I feel that Tempe is on track to become one of the better cities in the country. There are smaller colleges all over the valley, although ASU is the largest. There is also a diverse population, which makes the experience that much better. Mill Avenue is definitely one area to check out, but there are other things to see in the valley as well, like Salt River tubing, the surrounding desert and mountains, and the culture that can be found all over.

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Anonymous says:

Tempe and Phoenix are awesome,...

Tempe and Phoenix are awesome, especially during the school year. The average temperature is like 75 or 80 degrees, and it’s sunny all year. Tempe is the consummate college town. It has a lot of bars, shops, and parties. Phoenix is a major city so there’s plenty to see and do. There are no other major universities in the area but there’s a ton of little trade schools, so there’s a lot of college-age people around. If you are into the outdoors, Arizona is a great place! There are also all the major sports here, and California, Las Vegas, and Mexico are all pretty close. I love the atmosphere here.

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Anonymous says:

In Tempe, there’s not much to do...

In Tempe, there’s not much to do if you are under 21, since Greek life isn’t very big at ASU. You’re usually stuck going to apartment or house parties and that gets old really quick! Once you’re 21, it’s a ton of fun. If you feel like getting dressed up and going out, Scottsdale is only 10 minutes away. There are no other universities present in Tempe. Stay away from the street vendors on Mill Avenue because you can hardly understand them and they will try and get you to give them money. Walking down Mill Avenue is definitely something to do if you are visiting. Mill Avenue is full of great restaurants, college bars, and places to shop. Also, if you are interested in ASU, Old Main is the oldest building on campus and definitely worth seeing.

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Anonymous says:

Tempe has to be the biggest party...

Tempe has to be the biggest party town in the universe. Anywhere you go on any given day there is a party. ASU didn’t win number-one under Playboy’s Best Party School for nothing!

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Facts

Points of Interest

  • Camelback Mountain
  • Lake Havasu
  • Las Vegas
  • Los Angeles
  • Mill Avenue
  • Old Town Scottsdale
  • Papago Park
  • Phoenix Art Museum
  • The Phoenix Zoo
  • The River
  • Rocky Point, Mexico
  • San Diego
  • Scottsdale Fashion Square
  • The Snow Bowl
  • Tempe Town Lake

Distances

  • Flagstaff - AZ - 2 hours
  • Las Vegas - NV - 6 hours
  • Los Angeles - CA - 6 hours
  • San Diego - CA - 6 hours
  • Tucson - AZ - 1 hour, 30 minutes

Shopping Centers

  • Arizona Mills
  • Chandler Fashion Center
  • Mill Avenue (Centerpoint)
  • Scottsdale Fashion Square
  • Tempe Marketplace

Major Sports Teams

  • Arizona Cardinals - football
  • Arizona Diamondbacks - baseball
  • Phoenix Coyotes - hockey
  • Phoenix Suns - basketball

Movie Theaters

Harkins Arizona Mills 24
5000 Arizona Mills Circle
Tempe
(480) 820-0387

Harkins Theatres Tempe Marketplace
2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy.
Tempe
(480) 557-0027

Harkins Valley Art
509 S. Mill Ave.
Tempe
(480) 446-7272

Scottsdale Six Drive-In
8101 E. McKellips Rd.
Scottsdale
(480) 949-9451

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Tempe:
• Tempe boasts nearly 300 days of sunshine a year.
• Home to the ASU Sun Devils, the Arizona Cardinals, the Fiesta Bowl, and a number of MLB teams for spring training, Tempe is considered the sports capital of the state.
• Old Town Tempe’s Festivals of the Arts, held twice annually on the first weekend of April and December, attract nearly 200,000 people every year.
• The Tempe Improv, located on the NE corner of Rural and University, is an offshoot of New York’s famed Comedy Club.
• ASU occupies 700 acres in the heart of Tempe and is the nation’s fifth largest University.

Famous People from Tempe:
Steve Allen, comedian
Michael Carbajal, boxer
Lynda Carter, actor
Alice Cooper, rock star
Barry Goldwater, politician
Nick Nolte, ator
David Spade, comedian/actor
Steven Spielberg, director
Dick Van Dyke. actor
John Wayne, cowboy, actor
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect

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